THE POLAR JOURNEY 349 



showed themselves all round, and we got on to a steep rise 

 with the coastal chasm on our right hand appearing as a 

 great dip full of enormous pressure. Scott was naturally 

 worried about crevasses, and though we knew there was 

 a way through, the finding of it in the gloom was most 

 difficult. For two hours we zig-zagged about, getting 

 forward it is true, but much bewildered, and once at any 

 rate almost bogged. Scott joined us, and we took off our 

 ski so as to find the crevasses, and if possible a hard way 

 through. Every step we sank about fifteen inches, and 

 often above our knees. Meanwhile Snatcher was saving 

 the situation in snow-shoes, and led the line of ponies. 

 Snippets nearly fell back into a big crevasse, into which his 

 hind quarters fell: but they managed to unharness him, 

 and scramble him out. 



I do not know how long we had been going when Scott 

 decided to follow the chasm. We found a big dip with 

 hard ice underneath, and it was probably here that we 

 made the crossing: we could now see the ring of pressure 

 behind us. Almost it was decided to make the depot here, 

 but the ponies still plugged on in the most plucky way, 

 though they had to be driven. Scott settled to go as far 

 as they could be induced to march, and they did won- 

 derfully. We had never thought that they would go a mile : 

 but painfully they marched for eleven hours without a long 

 halt, and covered a distance which we then estimated at 

 seven miles. But our sledge-meters were useless being 

 clogged with the soft snow, and we afterwards came to 

 believe the distance was not so great : probably not more 

 than five. When we had reached a point some two miles 

 from the top of the snow divide which fills the Gateway we 

 camped, thankful to rest, but more thankful still that we 

 need drive those weary ponies no more. Their rest was 

 near. It was a horrid business, and the place was known as 

 Shambles Camp. 



Oates came up to Scott as he stood in the shadow of 

 Mount Hope. "Well! I congratulate you, Titus," said 

 Wilson. "And I thank you, Titus," said Scott. 



And that was the end of the Barrier Stage. 



